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DATE=6/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234232
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ OIL (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS AWARE THAT IRAQI 
OIL IS BEING SMUGGLED INTO TURKEY IN VIOLATION OF U-N SANCTIONS, 
BUT SAYS THE QUANTITIES ARE NOT LARGE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST 
REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  OFFICIALS HERE SAY ABOUT 45-THOUSAND BARRELS OF IRAQI OIL 
IS BEING SMUGGLED EACH DAY OVERLAND TO TURKEY BY TRUCK, BUT THAT 
IT IS A BARE FRACTION OF WHAT IRAQI PRODUCTION COULD BE IN THE 
ABSENCE OF THE U-N SANCTIONS.
THE COMMENTS FOLLOW A NEW YORK TIMES REPORT THAT THE 
ADMINISTRATION HAS CHOSEN TO "LOOK THE OTHER WAY" WHILE THE 
SMUGGLING GOES ON PLAIN SIGHT OF PATROLLING U-S AIRCRAFT -- IN 
PART BECAUSE IT BENEFITS FINANCIALLY HARD-PRESSED TURKEY AND THE 
IRAQI KURDS.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY, HOWEVER, SAYS THE UNITED 
STATES HAS LODGED COMPLAINTS OVER THE ILLICIT TRAFFIC WITH 
TURKISH AUTHORITIES:
                  ///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///     
         EVEN THOUGH IT COSTS THEM DEARLY. THEY INDICATE TO US 
         THAT THEY UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT SMUGGLING 
         -- THAT THEY WILL WORK TO ADDRESS IT. WE DO KNOW IT GOES
         ON AND WE HAVE RAISED THOSE CONCERNS, AND WE WILL 
         CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 
         TURKEY -- RECOGNIZING THAT THEY ARE IN A POSITION WHERE 
         THEY SUFFER SOME ECONOMIC DAMAGE AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE 
         IMPOSITION OF THESE SANCTIONS. 
                          ///END ACT///
MR. MCCURRY SAID SOME OF THE OVERLAND SMUGGLING IS INEVITABLE 
GIVEN THAT IRAQ HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE U-N TO LEGALLY MARKET 
SOME OIL FOR HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES AND THAT -- TOO -- IS SHIPPED 
THROUGH TURKEY.
THE OVERLAND SMUGGLING IS BELIEVED TO NET IRAQ ABOUT 100-MILLION 
DOLLARS A YEAR AND THAT A SIMILAR AMOUNT GETS THROUGH THE ALLIED 
BLOCKADE IN THE GULF -- WHERE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ARE CENTERED.
THAT COMPARES WITH AN ESTIMATED 15-BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN OIL 
INCOME THAT IRAQ COULD HAVE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE POST GULF-WAR 
SANCTIONS REGIME -- WHICH MR. MCCURRY SAID IS ARGUABLY THE 
TOUGHEST EVER PUT INTO EFFECT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/JO
19-Jun-98 3:17 PM EDT (1917 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.